Zinha Vaz

Francisca Maria Monteira e Silva Vaz Turpin, better known as Zinha Vaz (born 4 October 1952), is a Bissau-Guinean women's rights activist and politician. She has been a member of the National People's Assembly for several terms for the Resistance of Guinea-Bissau-Bafatá Movement, as well as a presidential advisor. In 1999 she served for a brief time as mayor of the capital city Bissau. She was jailed for political reasons for three years during the 1970s and in 2003 again for several days. Recently she was ambassador to Gambia.

Zinha Vaz was born on 4 October 1952 in the capital city of Bissau and received her education in Portugal. She received a diploma in education from the Instituto Superior de Ciências Educativas and in sociology from the Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa. She worked as a primary school teacher in Portugal and Guinea-Bissau. She later worked for the state gas and petroleum company DICOL as treasurer, chief of personnel and director of administration.

During the 1970s Zinha Vaz was critical of the one-party system set up by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) after independence of Guinea-Bissau from Portugal in 1974. During the reign of President Luís Cabral she was imprisoned between 1977 and 1980. After he release from prison Zinha Vaz continued her political activism. In 1986 the execution of six high political figures, including the first Vice President and Minister of Justice Paulo Correira and former Attorney General Viriato Pã, took place. The six were accused of attempting a coup. Zinha Vaz became a founding figure of the Resistance of Guinea-Bissau-Bafatá Movement (RGB-MB).

After the first multiparty elections in 1994, she became member of the National People's Assembly for the RGB-MB. The RGB-MB became the largest opposition party in parliament, conquering 19 out of 100 seats. Zinha Vaz was one of ten women legislators. Two of her family members also conquered seats for the RGB-MB, her brother Fernando Vaz and cousin Hélder Vaz Lopes. As a member of parliament Zinha Vaz focused on fighting corruption and abuse of power by government officials. She also tried to further the role of women in Guinea-Bissau society. As a member of the Permanent Commission of the National People's Assembly Zinha Vaz tried to mediate between President João Bernardo Vieira and Brigadier-General and coup-leader Ansumane Mané in the Guinea-Bissau Civil War of 1998–1999.

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